Share in the daily God is Still Speaking Devotional. Click on the rainbow comma.

CHURCH STAFF:

David Jaroszewski – President

Brenda Fluitt – Vice President, Worship Chair

Laura Bruce – Property Mananger

Juli Kring – Enviromental

Lisa Lum – Council Member

Stephen Loonam – Youth Education

Marilyn Reyes – Fellowship

Jane Eixmann – Church Secretary

Gail Hicks - Treasurer

SEEKING JUSTICE:

“Open the gates of justice! I will enter and tell the Lord how thankful I am.” Psalm 118:19

In America, the topic of race continues to be difficult to discuss in many social settings. Very few Christian churches are leading bold and courageous conversations, engaging in direct social activism, and participating in civil disobedience as a way to bring attention to and disrupt racist systems and structures.

The call to be a multiracial and multicultural church is an acknowledgement that racial justice is the inclusiveness of all humans and never excludes anyone based on skin color, culture or ethnic origin. The United Church of Christ stands in solidarity with the creation narrative in Genesis 1:26-27, which clearly outlines what matters to God—all of humankind and a just world for all. God created humankind in God’s image and likeness, women and men are image bearers, sharing equal status as human beings. God did not create race, racism, superior groups of humans, and hierarchical and hegemonic social structures.

2019 Vacation Bible Xperience is HERE!

Tuesday, June 25 through Thursday June 27 will be our 2019 Vacation Bible Xperience from 10:00-12:30 PM. Please note this is a time change. The VBX theme this year is Following Jesus.

What it is: In this video, Rev. Traci Blackmon explains why she engages in protests to oppose the injustices created by systems of white supremacy.

How to use it: Share this on your church’s Facebook page by right-clicking on the video, copying the video URL, and pasting it into the post section. Use this video as a discussion tool for your church and your church’s Facebook page. Discuss why showing up for protests against racism is important and why so many groups use protesting as a means of pushing for change.

The Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery

A Biblical Reflection

As part of the implementation of the General Synod 29 resolution, the joint working group of Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM) and Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) offer this resource for our churches to take up with prayer. To download the study, click HERE. Additional video resources:

For an introduction to the topic, see the video clip "Discovered, or Stolen?" For the history of the Doctrine of Discovery, see here for a 18-min. presentation by Dr. Roxanne Gould, All Nations Church UCC, Minneapolis, MN. See the same video (starting at the 18:40 mark) for Doctrine of Discovery and being a "pilgrim" today, a 10-min. mediation by the Rev. Emily Goldthwaite Fries.

Many Americans grow up learning that this continent was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus. The concept of discovery, as if the land was empty prior to arrival and its indigenous inhabitants were somehow “less than” the explorers is, at its heart, racism and cultural superiority.

The doctrine of discovery, a concept of public international law expounded by the United States Supreme Court in a series of decisions, originated from various church documents in Christian Europe in the mid-1400s to justify the pattern of domination and oppression by European monarchies as they invasively arrived in the Western hemisphere. It theologically asserted the right to claim the indigenous lands, territories, and resources on behalf of Christendom, and to subjugate native peoples around the world.

The U.S. Supreme Court used the doctrine to assert that the United States, as the successor of Great Britain, had inherited authority over all lands within our claimed boundaries. This decision allowed our government to legally ignore or invalidate any native claims to property and resources. To this day courts continue to cite this legal precedent. It is still being used by courts to decide property rights cases brought by Native Americans against the U.S. and against non-Natives.

Child Sponsorship - With Eyes to SeeFor the past 13 years our family, through the Global Ministries Sponsorship program, has sponsored a child at the Family Village Farm, in Tamil Nadu, India. Her name is Saranya. Alongside our two sons, Christopher and Daniel, we have considered her part of the family. A photo of her has been posted on our frig for years. We have exchanged letters. We have noted with joy each of her accomplishments in her school. Never did we imagine that we would ever have the opportunity to see her in person.

Would you like to become involved with an easy global mission project? Come, you who are blessed... share comfort and show compassion in life as Christ did around the world. The Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program is the place to get connected! This global children's ministry works closely with private centers that have long-established links with a UCC or Disciples global partner. Through partners, we work in collaboration with our agencies to provide food, basic health care, clothing and in some cases housing, school fees, uniform, books and training and livelihood opportunities to many poor and destitute children in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Europe. The Child Sponsorship program has been providing assistance for more than 40 years—one child at a time...

Currently, we have 15 centers participating with approximately 900 children in the program. Over the years more than 3,000 poor and low income children have been embraced by sponsors and their gifts. Find out more at ucc.org!

Net neutrality has scored another major win this week. Faith leaders of the United Church of Christ are applauding the victory that will protect the ability of all people — regardless of their faith, background or income level — to communicate, create and organize their efforts online.

A decision by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, June 14, upheld net neutrality rules that would allow the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the industry. That means that internet service providers would have to follow the same rules as utility providers, providing streams of data to customers without favor.

“The UCC’s media justice ministry, the Office of Communication, Inc., is celebrating [this decision],” said Cheryl Leanza, policy advisor for OC, Inc. "The open internet is a key tool for community-building, solidarity, and social justice. Our Faithful Internet campaign reached more than 1 million people last year and each member of the campaign deserves thanks for helping ensure our modern communications systems are accessible to all, no matter the size of their wallets or the color of their skin.”

Gun Violence

Members of the faith community have long advocated for sensible, responsible policies to end gun violence. In 1995, The UCC 20th General Synod passed a resolution entitled “Violence in Our Society and World,” in which it recognized the complicated and interwoven layers at the root of violence.t same General Synod also passed a resolution entitled “Guns and Violence,” inviting UCC members and congregations to advocate for legislation to strengthen licensing and registration of gun sales, strengthen regulations of gun dealers and ban semiautomatic assault weapons and high capacity ammunition clips.

The faith community has come together many times in the aftermath of gun tragedies to urge lawmakers to pass laws that prevent gun violence. Tested by our grief, resolute in our faith we remain committed to continuing this drumbeat.